Region
Asia

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2R in Kulob

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1987
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-70584
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1G127-52
YOM:
1971
Location:
Kulob
Khatlon Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing, the airplane went out of control and collided with a tanker. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in Tavildara

Date & Time: May 9, 1983
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-02515
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1G119-58
YOM:
1970
Location:
Tavildara
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to make an emergency landing after the engine failed in flight. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 near Dushanbe: 29 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1980 at 1344 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87689
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Leninabad - Dushanbe
MSN:
9 91 04 03
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
SU088W
Location:
Dushanbe
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path by 67 km while circumnavigating a thunderstorm over the mountains with neither crew nor ATC realizing the deviation. At this time, the radio compass did not work properly due to the interference caused by the proximity of the thunderstorm, and the wind component was different than forecast. When the crew reported overflying the outer marker, the aircraft was in fact still 43 km away from it. While descending in clouds, the aircraft crashed at a height of 2,840 metres into the slope of a mountain located 44 km northwest of Dushanbe Airport. All 29 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to officials, the pilots have been hampered in their actions by the lack of visibility caused by poor weather conditions that remains a contributing factor. It is believed that the initial information provided by pilots to air traffic controllers were false and could have misled them. However, the assistance provided by air traffic controllers was insufficient and they did not proceed to any fix point control that should let them identifying the wrong position of the aircraft and thus informing the crew accordingly.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18V near Leninabad: 79 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1973 at 0737 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-75712
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dushanbe - Leninabad - Moscow
MSN:
189 0018 04
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
SU630
Location:
Leninabad
Sughd Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
71
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
79
Aircraft flight hours:
20404
Aircraft flight cycles:
9590
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,600 meters, the crew received the permission to descent to 4,500 meters when the automatic pilot system was deactivated. Suddenly, the airplane banked left to an angle of 90° then entered a dive. At an altitude of 2,200 meters, due to excessive g loads, the left wing separated and the aircraft caught fire. Out of control, it crashed at a speed of 840 km/h in an open field located 8,4 km southeast of Buston Station, about 38 km northwest of Leninabad Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 79 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control, that occurred just after the automatic pilot system has been deactivated, was caused by the failure of an attitude indicator was not ruled out.

Crash of a Yakovlev Yak-40 on Mt Airy Tash: 21 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1970 at 2126 LT
Type of aircraft:
Yakovlev Yak-40
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-87690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Frunze - Khujand
MSN:
9 91 05 03
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
SH-4
Location:
Mt Airy Tash
Sughd Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
1020
Aircraft flight cycles:
1344
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Frunze Airport, Kirghizistan, at 2024LT bound to Leninabad, Tajikistan, carrying 18 passengers and a crew of three. Weather conditions were considered as good and the crew reached the assigned altitude of 5,700 meters. En route, the crew failed to realize the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west and informed ATC he passed over the cities of Namangan and Kokand. At 2121LT, ATC based at Leninabad cleared the crew to descent to 3,300 meters then 2,100 meters without knowing the exact position of the airplane. By night, at a speed of 500 km/h, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Airy Tash (2,300 meters high) located about 90 km northeast of Leninabad. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 21 occupants were killed. First accident involving a Yak-40.
Probable cause:
Poor flight planning, erroneous in-flight decisions and navigation errors on part of the flying crew caused the aircraft to be off-course at the time of the accident, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of ATC assistance who failed to properly check the exact position of the aircraft before clearing the crew to descent to 2,100 meters over mountains terrain,
- ATC failed to use properly the different navaids, poor ATC coverage,
- Both pilots were relatively inexperienced on this type of aircraft as they were recently qualified on Yak-40 type,
- Lack of experience in IFR flight and by night,
- Despite the fact that the captain had already been disciplined for serious violations of flight rules, he had recently been allowed to fly with passengers on night flights on this type of aircraft.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Sagirdasht: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1969 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-98316
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Qal'ai Khumb – Tavildara – Dushanbe
MSN:
1102 473 14
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
SH84
Location:
Tavildara
Districts of Republican Subordination
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
8606
Aircraft flight cycles:
12069
Circumstances:
On the leg from Qal'ai Khumb to Tavildara of a flight from Qal'ai Khumb to Dushanbe, the crew encountered below-minima weather conditions (the summits were covered by clouds), deviated from the prescribed flight path to the west by 8 km and crashed into a snow-covered slope of the Darwaz Mountain range, some 9 km SSW of Sagirdasht (Gorny Badakhshan). Two of the 3 pilots (including a check pilot) and 9 of the 10 passengers were killed and both survivors were seriously injured. The wreckage was found 31MAR69 and both survivors were evacuated three days later, on 02APR69.
Probable cause:
The crew decided to continue in below-weather minima in violation of the published procedures. Poor support on part of the meteorological services and lack of ATC assistance were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of an Antonov AN-2 near Murghob: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1966 at 1235 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-79816
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Geographical / Geophysical / Scientific
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dushanbe - Murghob
MSN:
1160 473 04
YOM:
1961
Location:
Murghob
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
5087
Aircraft flight cycles:
7483
Circumstances:
On a flight from Dushanbe to Murghob in support of a geological expedition, a fire erupted (probably started by an acetone spill) while the aircraft was flying through the gorge of the river Murghob. The crew attempted a forced landing near the confluence of the rivers Murghob and Zapadny Pshart, some 60 km west of Murghob, but while flying a steep left turn, the aircraft collided with the northern slope of the gorge and crashed. Both pilots and all 4 passengers were killed. The wreckage was found two days later.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire caused by an accidental spill of acetone in the cabin.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Rushan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1953 at 0620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4027
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Khorugh – Stalinabad
MSN:
184 299 05
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SU878
Location:
Rushan
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
1477
Circumstances:
At 0613LT, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 meters, the crew informed ATC he just passed over the city of Rushan eight minutes earlier. Shortly later, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered clouds and low visibility. Now at an altitude of 4,800 meters, the aircraft lost height due to strong downdraft and hit the south slope of a mountain located near the Yauza Pass located about 15 km northwest of Rushan. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven occupants were killed. The wreckage was found two days later at an altitude of 4,800 meters, approx 100 meters below the summit.
Probable cause:
The aircraft lost height due to downdraft and at the time of the accident, it was off course because the captain decided to modify his route for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Leninabad: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1948 at 0708 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4275
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stalinabad – Leninabad – Tashkent
MSN:
184 229 09
YOM:
27
Location:
Leninabad
Sughd Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2948
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Stalinabad to Tashkent with an intermediate stop in Leninabad, carrying a load of tires, construction goods, ropes and tuns. After the aircraft overflew Jizzhak, the captain started the descent through thick clouds. At this moment, the crew was unaware that the aircraft was off course due to strong winds when, at an altitude of 700 meters, the aircraft hit the west slope of a mountain located in the Mogol-Tau Mountain Range, about 31 km from Leninabad. Rescuers arrived on site a day later and were able to evacuate a wounded crew member while four other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Rough indiscipline of the captain who violated several rules and requirements,
- Poor organization of aircraft flight planning and mismanagement of aircraft traffic,
- Wrong decision taken regarding the weather forecast,
- Lack of assistance and guidance during the flight, regarding the deterioration of the weather along the route,
- Poor control of flight operations,
- Lack of professionalism on part of the Stalinabad AMSC that transmitted to the crew undue weather, wrong weather forecasting with conditions worse than predicted,
- Poor organization and operational control to ensure safety,
- Failure to provide the appropriate Leninabad radio equipment for the aircraft,
- Lack of leadership on part of the RDS in Stalinabad and Tashkent,
- Lack of accurate instructions on part of the ADS in Leninabad.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Leninabad: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4088
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Leninabad – Alma Ata
MSN:
184 137 04
YOM:
19
Location:
Leninabad
Sughd Province
Country:
Tajikistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
1984
Circumstances:
The aircraft lifted off from Leninabad after a takeoff roll of 1,200 meters only. After rotation, while in initial climb at a height of 2-3 meters, the aircraft hit a telephone pole and power cables, stalled and crashed in flames. Three occupants were killed while four others were injured, among them the copilot. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire. The crew was performing a cargo flight to Alma Ata, carrying a load consisting of apricots and silk.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the takeoff roll was too long because the total weight of the aircraft was 627 kilos above the MTOW. Despite the situation, the captain did not take the decision to abandon the takeoff and completed the rotation after a course of 1,200 meters with an insufficient speed. After liftoff, a part of the cargo totaling 290 kilos shifted in the rear of the cabin, causing the aircraft to stall.
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